Laminectomy / cervical spine surgery - anyone with personal experience?

[schrodingers_cat]

Hi Folks, I'm posting in the middle of the day because i'm laid up with a screaming nerve going down my arm. The doc just recommended surgery, but I don't have specifics other than that it would be a laminectomy with the posibility of fusion. I'm all for it, but have my concerns about anyone getting so close to my spinal cord. I would greatly value any input from you, my beloved fellow posters here at DU. :hi: :hug:

[TomInTib]

1. My neighbor just had that done and it has changed her life.

Actually had a vertebrae removed.

She came out of that deal thinking her surgeon was God Incarnate.

[Lelah]

2. laminectomy

check the website for Desert Spine and Neurosurgical Institute...I was just looking there due to my old father having similar problems; they have a link that explains the various procedures in pretty good depth.

Good luck.

[TomInTib]

3. Hey, schrodingers_cat...

We are in Tiburon, just across the Bay. If you want to talk to her (about surgery, surgeon, whatever), I am sure she would gladly oblige.

[schrodingers_cat]

7. I've noticed your posts often, Tom in Tib, since we share the same bay

(I even have a keyhole view :)). I may take you up on that offer (I'll PM if my research doesn't turn up enough info) My biggest concern is recovery time - the surgery will take so much time just to get scheduled, I want to keep the whole time off process to a minimum. The irony is that I work for this hospital in a way that improves the quality of it's service, so the less time they have me on the bench, the better for them....
I'd love to know who her doc is, since they've mastered removing an entire vertebrae!
Much thanks for the response :)

[TomInTib]

9. Her only complaint is that she is two inches less tall.

She may have had two vertebrae removed.

That just blows me away.

Can you make it stop raining every day?

[schrodingers_cat]

11. Sorry, Tom, Can't do nuthin 'bout the rain....

except to recommend as many hikes through local meadows as possible once it stops. Or perhaps a stop at that great waterfall in Big Basin, although you are close to a nice little waterfall that empties into a resevoir - I can't think of the name - I don't think I ever knew it. Or how about that one in Point Reyes that empties into the ocean?

[TomInTib]

12. My house was IN a waterfall night before last..

We live about 60 feet above the Bay in Old Town Tiburon.

The rain was so intense I could hear the water running down the hill outside the bedroom window.

[schrodingers_cat]

21. Funny you should mention that....

We are on a hill as well, and we get a temporary river too! I hear that water features are soothing......
That said, I am afraid of any big winds these days...we have 4 major trees that could take most of the house out should one blow down, and with the saturation as it is...yikes!

[Warpy]

4. First, try a course of physical rehab

and make absolutely certain that surgery is your only option. Get a second opinion if this guy won't refer you. Get a second opinion in any case.

A good course in rehab can delay surgery, and you want to delay it as long as possible.

I've worked with spinal injury patients on and off for 20 years and generally speaking, the higher the repair the better the outcome, barring complications. Even 20 years ago, the cervical laminectomy patients did well if they didn't have complications, and complications were unusual.

Just get that second opinion, go to rehab if you can, and make sure it's the best option for you. If both docs say surgery, though, you'll know it's time for the op.

[schrodingers_cat]

8. Warpy, I love your moniker!!

Simply moving my arm more than a few times a day makes it hurt - I'll pay dearly for sitting here and typing...do you know what types of rehab they do for folks who hurt from moving? I'm very interested if you could explain more.....

[Warpy]

17. First, get that second opinion

and do ask about a referral to rehab. Since I don't know your particular situation I can't describe much of what might happen in rehab, but typically they use heat, ice, and movement.

This is the advice I've given a relative, and s/he was able to avoid surgery, at least for now. However, if both opinions are that you need surgery, you do.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Look into electronic pain suppression

Not just TENS, but the newer units that can be implanted and target individual nerve trunks. The implants can be peripheral, or right in the spine itself, depending on the technology you and your surgeon choose. And microsurgery on the spinal cord is quite low in risk these days.

Jerry Lewis is a major promoter for electronic pain control devices now. One of them cured his long-term back pain. A keyword search should find a number of sites of interest.

--p!

[serryjw]

6. As a Breast cancer survivor

for 13 years I HIGHLY recommend you talking ( On/off line) with many people before doing it. Previous patients will give you good information on procedures and whom is the best doctor in your area for what you need.
There are message board online for everything now..try this
http://www.spineonline.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=laminectomy+
http://www.healthboards.com/back-problems/8128.html
http://www.backpainreliefonline.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~drosen/webc.cgi/dg_main.html?p_opencat=2&sid=9Q6ujCd3

Good luck!

[schrodingers_cat]

10. Serry, Thank you very much for the sites - I will indeed look into them.

You are so right - I researched my only other surgery very thoroughly, and it made a world of difference in the level of care that I received. You are a hero, my dear, for your fight with breast cancer - I count a few b.c. survivors among my friends, and they seem to have gathered worlds of wisdom along their paths to healing. One of them tells a hilarious story about her quest for nipple reconstruction. Hugs to you, my strong friend :hug:

[serryjw]

14. You are very welcome

Keep us posted on your decisions.Send me a PM on the nipple reconstruction. I would love to hear the story.

[LiberalEsto]

13. A friend in Arizona just had one

and found it extraordinarily painful, but everyone's body is different. She had it about 3 weeks ago and is still recovering.

My orthopedic doctor doesn't want to do surgery, so I decided to try acupuncture. After 2 weeks, I am amazed at how much better it feels. Now we're working on weight loss to take more pressure off my spine.

If you have Aetna insurance, Aetna now has a provider list for acupuncturists, chiropractors, etc. that gets you a big discount on the cost. Otherwise I could not have afforded it. Some other health insurance companies may be doing something similar, so check.

[Lelah]

19. Acupuncture

I might try an accupuncturist for my old (92) father...he's got severe age related disk issues, and his fingers have gone numb making it tough to button shirts, unzip fly, etc.

His other alternative would be surgery, which was categorized as "major", and we don't really want to go that route.

[Wildewolfe]

15. ACDFs

I've had to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion surguries done. First on c5/6 and the 2nd on c4/5 after a car accident 6 months after the first one.

The surgeries themselves were not excessively painful. The first one, in fact, did not require any post surgical narcotics at all. I was in so much pain from the collapased disc before the surgery that even counting surgical pain I was in heaven after it (all the disc pain was gone).

The 2nd one didn't go as well as the first leaving some nerve damage and some residual pain, but even still it is an improvement to pre surgical conditions.

In both cases I was in a neck brace for 8 weeks after the surgery to let the fusion take hold. I used donor bone for both fusions. My frank advice is to do the same. Letting them take the bone chip for the fusion from your hip makes it much much much worse.

Feel free to message me if you want any more details on what all I went through with em.

[OneBlueSky]

16. the danger in waiting is the risk of permanent nerve damage . . .

if nerves are being impinged by a disc and the pressure is not relieved, there will come a time when even removing the pressure will be too late to prevent permanent damage to the nerves . . . happened to me, and I'm permanently disabled because of it . . .

have the surgery and decompress the nerves . . . not doing so is just too much of a risk . . .

[snacker]

18. I had a laminectomy 11 years ago...

for a herniated disc. The pain before the surgery was horrendous...I couldn't sit or stand and my left foot was partially numb. I had never had surgery before and was quite nervous about someone doing surgery on my back, but it was a breeze. I came to and the pain was completely gone (I often compare it to having a tooth pulled---instant relief). I was home in two days and the recovery went very well and quickly. The nerves in my foot came back into action (just like my surgeon told me they would). I never even took a pain pill after. Hope your experience is as positive and pain-relieving as mine was. Good luck.

[schrodingers_cat]

20. Thanks all, for the great feedback!

I may PM a few of you over the next days if you don't mind - I can only type a wee bit every day. I tried a half day at work and it sent me to the emergency room for a morphine shot, so I've learned my lesson.
What a great bunch of folks here at DU. I'm so appreciative of y'all taking the time to share with me. Big hugs all around!!!